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Michon B, Balkou S, Hivon R, et al. Death of a child: Parental perception of grief intensity - End-of-life and bereavement care. Paediatr Child Health. 2003;8(6):363-6doi: 10.1093/pch/8.6.363.
Michon, B., Balkou, S., Hivon, R., & Cyr, C. (2003). Death of a child: Parental perception of grief intensity - End-of-life and bereavement care. Paediatrics & child health, 8(6), 363-6. https://doi.org/10.1093/pch/8.6.363
Michon, Bruno, et al. "Death of a child: Parental perception of grief intensity - End-of-life and bereavement care." Paediatrics & child health vol. 8,6 (2003): 363-6. doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/pch/8.6.363
Michon B, Balkou S, Hivon R, Cyr C. Death of a child: Parental perception of grief intensity - End-of-life and bereavement care. Paediatr Child Health. 2003 Jul;8(6):363-6. doi: 10.1093/pch/8.6.363. PMID: 20052330; PMCID: PMC2795457.
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Paediatr Child Health. 2003 Jul;8(6):363-6. doi: 10.1093/pch/8.6.363.

Death of a child: Parental perception of grief intensity - End-of-life and bereavement care.

Paediatrics & child health

Bruno Michon, Steve Balkou, René Hivon, Claude Cyr

Affiliations

  1. Département de pédiatrie.

PMID: 20052330 PMCID: PMC2795457 DOI: 10.1093/pch/8.6.363

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The death of a child is a tragedy resulting in family trauma and disorganization. The present study sought to evaluate the intensity of grief experienced by parents who have lost a child in the perinatal period (stillbirth, premature baby, term baby less than one month) and parents who have lost a child after the perinatal period (one month to 18 years).

METHOD: To compare the intensities of the bereavement reactions among grieving parents and to follow the course of such phenomena, a detailed bereavement questionnaire (the French version of the Texas Revised Inventory of Grief [TRIG-F]) was used. The TRIG-F is a three-part questionnaire that quantifies the intensity of grief near the time of death and in the present, and the perceived capacity of coping.

RESULTS: Seventy-one bereaved parents, representing 43 families, completed the questionnaire. Parents who lost a child after the perinatal period showed grief at a higher intensity, measured by the TRIG-F, than parents who had lost a child in the perinatal period (83+/-22 versus 69+/-20 [mean+/-SD]; P=0.004). Mothers expressed a greater intensity of grief than fathers. No significant difference between mothers of the perinatal group and mothers of the postperinatal group was shown. Sudden death and death ocurring at home were associated with a higher grief intensity.

CONCLUSION: Bereavement after the loss of a newborn or an older child is intense and prolonged. These findings support the importance of bereavement care for grieving parents and suggest that these parents appreciate help from health care professionals.

Keywords: Bereavement; Child; End-of-life care; Parental grief

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